Pocketbook



l J. .1. DvoRAK POCKETBOOK June 14, 1932.

Filed Deo. 23', 1929 Patented June 14, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH J'. DVORAK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS POCKETBOOK Application led December 23, 1929.

The present invention relates to improvements in a ladys purse or pocketbook and more particularly to a novel arrangement and means for conveniently carrying powder' applicators or other removable paraphernalia usually carried in a purse.

The primary object of the invention is the provision, in combination with a ladys purse, of novel means therein for holding and retracting a powder applicator or the like, said means being controlled by opening and closing of the purse.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a housing or pocket, in connection with a purse7 for carrying a powder applicator or other paraphernalia and a reel therein adapted to be locked in certain positions by means on the jaw members of the purse.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel means in connection with the frame members of a purse for automatically winding up a flexible cable adapted to carry a powder applicator or the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a compact and inexpensive casing or thelike, in association with a ladys purse, adapted to carry a mirror, a powder applicator and cable means connecting reso movable paraphernalia with a winding reel within the purse.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means on the jaw members, or in proximity to such jaw members, for locking or unlocking cable winding means carried within the purse.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation showing the purse opened with a powder puff withdrawn from the pocket.

Fig. 2 is an interior view of the purse7 parts being shown in sectio-n on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan section on line 3 3 of Fig.

2 and showing a powder puff pocket and reel operating parts.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing parts as shown in Fig. 1 but in the position assumed when the purse is closed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on line Serial No. 416,026.

5-5 of Fig. 4 showing the interior of the spring reel and tape or cable wound thereon.

The invention comprises a ladys purse 10 of conventional construction and comprising two aw members 11 and 12 hinged together at each end as at 13 and adapted to lock against each other by interlocking engagement of the projecting studs 14 and 14. The flexible material of leather or the like comprising the lower portion of the pocketbook is securely fastened to the linner surface of the jaw members 11 and 1-2 by means of rivets or the like as shown in Fig. 2.

An elongated met-al pocket-shaped container 15 is securely fastened within the purse 10 in a plane substantially parallel tothe flat side of the purse, such attachment being made by means of rivets or the like passing thru an extended projecting side or tongue 16 of the container 15 and thru jaw member 11, as shown in Fig. 2. The metal container 15 is preferably fiat and sulhciently large to receive a. powder puff or the like and has a circular flange 17 on its forward face adapted to hold a mirror 18. The flange 17 is so made as to grip and hold the beveled edge 19 of mirror 18.

A bolt 20 passing thru opposing walls of the container 15 near the jaw member 11 forms an axis for and carries a rotatable reel 21 and has a nut 22 threaded on its end 5to hold the same in place. This construct-ion maintains the reel 21 in a plane parallel to the long sides of the container. The reel 21 comprises a substantially circular protecting metal housing having a cable outlet therein, a rotatable spool 23 therein and a spiral spring 24. One end of the spiral spring 24 is securely fastened on the axis bolt 20 while the outer end thereof is made to form a hook 25 which is hooked in a slot formed in the central connecting portion of the spool, as shown in Fig. 5. The outer iange of the spool 23 is preferably serrated for a purpose hereinafter set forth. A tape Lor other flexible cable 26 of convenient length is wound about said spool, the free end of which carries a Clasp 27, said slasp gripping a powder applicator 28. It `will be evident that withdrawal of the powder puff from the open purse will unwind the tape 25 and rotate spool 23 of the reel against the action of spiral spring 24.

The tension of spiral spring 24, under ordinary conditions and when the spool 23 is free to rotate, will cause said spool 23 to wind up tape 26, thereby drawing the powder applicator into the container 15 and adjacent to said reel.

Constant pull or tension on the tape 26 and` powder applicator 28 is objectionable during use of said powder applicator because it restricts free movement thereof about the face. To overcome this objectionable tension I provide the following means.

A projecting arm 29 is formed integral with the lower part ofthe jaw member 12 and has its free end perforated and bent at a right angle to project toward jaw member 11. An arcuate pawl 29 is provided which has one end thereof hingedlj7 pivoted to the projected perforated end of arm 29, said pawl being free for vertical moven'ient.

The projecting side 16 of container 15 is provided with a slot 30 in its forward face and at a point just below the head of bolt 2O and opposite the serrated edge of spool 23. The rear side of container 15 also has a slot 31 substantially opposite slot 30. The reel housing is cut away opposite slots 30 and 31 to expose the serrated edge of spool 23.

The pawl 29 is inserted in the slots 30 and 31 and is adapted to slide therein, as shown in Figures 1 and t. The free end of pawl 29 is enlarged as shown, said enlarged portion being adapted to engage the serrated edge of spool 23 to lock said spool against rotation when the jaw members 11 and 12 are in substantially extreme open position. It will be noted that the pawl 29 is made of such size that ,it does not engage spool 23 except in substantially extreme open position of the pocketbook. This construction is highly desirable because in use the powder applicator is manually withdrawn while the purse is sufficiently open to permit insertion of the hand. Extreme open position of the purse may be prevented until withdrawal of the powder applicator to the desired distance. An abutment 32 on the lower side of the free end of pawl 29 prevents opening of the aw members 11 and 12 to an extent which would cause complete withdrawal of pawl 29 from slot 30.

As shown in Fig. 2, the container 15 also serves asa lip-stick pencil receptacle. While I have shown the container 15 merely as a receptacle for a powder applicator, lipstick pencil and mirror, it may also be made in the form of a compact well known in the art and adapted to hold powder in either loose or cake form.

The device is simple in its operation which will be clearly understood from the following remarks. When the purse is opened a distance less than that shown in Fig. 1, the powder applicator 28 will be manually withdrawn against the resistance of the coil spring 24. When the applicator 28 is withdrawn until the tape 25 is unwound to the desired distance, the jaws 11 and 12 of the purse will be opened to extreme position, thereby causing the enlarged end of pawl 29 to lock spool 23 against rotation. While the jaws are in this extreme open position, there is no tension on tape 25 and the powder applicator 2S may be conveniently used.

lVlien the operator is thru using the applicator 28, a partial closing of the purse will unlock the reel spool, the spring-impelled action of which will draw the powder applictor back into the container or compact 15.

I am' aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with the aw members of a purse, of a reel mounted on one of said members including a spool and a spiral spring adapted to rotate said spool, a flexible cable adapted to wind on said spool, an applicator' on the free end of said cable, and a pawl movably mounted on the other of said jaw members adapted to engage said spool when said jaw members are in a predetermined position relative to each other.

The combination with the frame members of a purse, of a reel mounted on one of said frame members, said reel comprising a casing and spring-impelled spool therein, .1 flexible cable on said spool, an applicator on said cable, and lever means on the other of said frame members adapted to lock said spool against rotation.

3. In combination with a purse, a frame member, a pawl on said frame member having an enlarged free end, a second frame member hinged to said lirst frame member', an apertured plate member secured to said second frame member, a reel on said plate, said reel being adapted to be engaged by said pawl to lock said reel against rotation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of December, 1929.

JOSEPH J. DVORAK. 

